Definite new fan of Carly Bloom. I really liked reading Alice and Beau’s story. Consent, steam, humor....had everything i've come to expect from a romance

I'd never read a cowboy book until Carly Bloom's Once Upon a Time in Texas series, and I binged all three in a weekend. If you love romcom's, you need these books in your life!

Must Love Cowboys is the third in the series and I loved it. Fake dating between childhood crushes: what else do you need?! There's also open door romance and really sweet and vulnerable characters. Alice and Beau are so supportive of one another and I love that Alice was helping him with his dyslexia.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the supporting case in Big Verde, especially the book club ladies and Ms. Mills. Ms. Mills is a gem, she had me constantly laughing.

This is a great series and I'm excited to see where it goes from here!

I did not finish this book, and will not be writing a formal review. I really, really struggled with the characters. I didn't really like any of them, and since I'm a character-driven reader I started losing interest pretty quickly. Alice still thinks of Beau at the annoying kid she babysat, yet... now he's sexy... and that kind of made me squeamish. Beau's dyslexia made for a very interesting series of thoughts and discussions for me to read, and I was delighted to see this disability represented in this book. I couldn't see the romantic connection between them because they spend so much of the book apart. I wasn't getting the swoons and the weak-in-the-knees feeling. I believed them as friends more than anything else. This was clearly a case of not being the right book for me. Thanks so much to the publisher for the opportunity!

Must Love Cowboys is the third book in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series and a great addition. This was an all-around great romance with plenty of swoon-worthy and sweet moments.

Alice Martin is the librarian at the Big Verde library. She's cool with being by herself and when she's not at the library, she's content to be at home. Her friend Carmen has recently tried to get her out of her shell more and more into the social scene. At 31, Alice is the complete opposite of Carmen, the blue-haired chef who is always turning people's heads.

Beau Montgomery is a foreman at Rancho Canada Verde and he and his twin brother, Bryce, are good-looking and constantly turning heads in their small town. Beau has had a crush on Alice "Allie Cat" since he was a teenager when she used to babysit the brothers. While only three years separate them in age, he feels like the chasm is much larger than that. Beau also suffers from dyslexia and the fact he has never really dealt with the issue is starting to cause problems for him at work.

Beau finally makes the decision to approach Alice to see if she can help him with his reading at the suggestion of his brother. He does so begrudgingly, but knows that in the long run it will be the best thing for him. What he doesn't realize is that Alice needs a favor from him in return - a date to her intern Brittany's wedding. The two decide it's a deal, but is that all it's going to be or will feelings end up erupting between the two?

There is so much to love about this small town and all of its inhabitants. They are funny, endearing and charming. I'm looking forward to more fun in Big Verde!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Must Love Cowboys is the third book in Carly Bloom’s Once Upon a Time in Texas series. I fell in love with this series from the first and couldn’t wait to read this one. You can definitely read this as a stand alone but I highly recommend Big Bad Cowboy.

Must Love Cowboys gives a great glimpse of in town and ranch life. We get in an in-depth look at Librarian, Alice, finally! Alice is the most delightful character and I’m so glad we get to see her in all her quirky glory. Alice loves the town, the library and her friends. She goes to feminist groups, claims to be self-partnered and is making self care a priority.

Beau is a swoon worthy cowboy with a reputation for lots of dating with no commitments. A handsome twin and co-manager of a ranch who has been hiding his dyslexia for years.

Bloom has me coming back to Big Verde for every story she writes! This one check my boxes for many favorite elemnts... Librarian, fake to real dating trope, childhood crush, cinnamon roll hero, dyslexia. Their story is funny, sweet and made me fall in love with them. Looking forward to more!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early read in exchange for a review.

Carly Bloom. #MustLoveCowboyswithbonusnovel #NetGalley

Holy Guacamole! Carly did it again! I absolutely adored Beau and Alice in this book. The push and pull between them was so fun, and I loved their back story. I loved reading a book with a librarian, but Beau was the one who really stole the show for me. I just wanted to scoop him right up. And as always Carly writes some fantastic steamy scenes.

There is so much to love about this book, Carly Bloom is such a great writer! I love the humor and emotion she infuses into her stories, I’ve been anxiously awaiting Alice’s story and it did not disappoint. I didn’t feel like we got to know the twins Beau and Brice very well in the previous books so it was fun to see more of them and their relationship.

Alice and Beau had such a fun chemistry. Another reviewer mentioned they weren’t together enough in the book and usually that bothers me too, but I think you still got a good feel for their relationship and the story pacing flowed well so it didn’t feel like you were always waiting for them to finally reunite again and the progression of their friendship growing into more felt really natural. They kept telling others they just liked spending time together, and it really felt that way. Also the sex is HOT. Their chemistry is sizzling and despite Alice’s rambling throughout, I was left sweating.

In the story, Beau is struggling with Dyslexia and needs tutoring, while Alice needs a date for a wedding. Of course they strike up a deal which turns into fake (not fake at all) dating. Everyone in town thinks Beau is this big flirt that sleeps around, which is true to an extent, but he’s also using sex as a way to shield himself and his secret disability. I loved how the author uses the themes of intimacy and sex as a way to show how each character is hiding.

Another part of this series that is part of why I love it so much is the town itself. Big Verde is this big mixing pot of hilarious and lovable characters. The friendship between Maggie, Claire, newcomer Carmen, and Alice was one of my favorite parts of the book. Alice has always felt like she didn’t quite fit in, and to see her finding that friendship and acceptance was wonderful.

A couple of the reasons why this isn’t quite 5 stars, and maybe they’re a little bit nit picky but here ya go....

Alice says “Holy Guacamole” no less than 30 times in this book. Every time she said it I cringed a little more. I get that she’s this quirky kind of nerdy character but using the same dorky phrase repeatedly took me out of the story a bit.

It’s always fun to catch up with characters down the road, but I didn’t love the epilogue in this book. After really enjoying the sweetness of the book it just didn’t feel like it flowed well with the rest of the story.

Again this is all nitpicking and I still really loved this book and practically read it in one sitting.

What a beautiful twist to a traditional romance with a fairly tale twist. Beau and Alice have a deep connection that just continues to deepen throughout the story. Alice has a unique personality that really shines through and Beau fully accepts her for who she is. They start their relationship under a guise that they are dating, but in reality it's a front for her to help him with his dyslexia. This is a slow burn that will pull out all of the feels. It melted my heart and put it all back together. I adored all of the characters in this book and if you're up for a sweet, sexy small town romance this is one that should be on your list. It's one that I couldn't put down and I'm not normally a fan of slow burn, but this one was so good.

It's so wonderful being back in Big Verde! Must Love Cowboys is a very cute fake dating and friends to lovers romance. There are some fun nods to Beauty and the Beast, as well as a bit of forced proximity thrown in as well. I really liked the added twist that the heroine used to babysit the hero when they were younger. This is book 3 in the Once Upon a Time in Texas series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Beau and Alice couldn't be more different on paper, but I loved how they each let down their guard and allowed the other in. They see each other as no one else does and that connection was so beautiful. It's a wonderful slow burn between them, but the wait was worth it. Beau was a great complement to Alice and I loved the tender moments between them. I'm not usually a fan of the playboy hero, but Beau definitely grew on me. He was quite the softie underneath all that swagger and I loved how it was revealed piece by piece how he had lost his heart to Alice so many years before. I also appreciated that he made sure Alice was on board every step of the way as things progressed. I could have done without all the reminders of his past activities though and I wasn't a huge fan of some of his teasing. I also think he needed to do a bit more groveling at the end, but the epilogue was a sweet way to bring their story full circle.

Alice was a wonderful heroine and really came into her own through the course of the novel. Her friendships with Claire, Maggie, and Carmen were fantastic, and I loved how supportive they were of one another. It was refreshing to see a heroine who walked to the beat of her own drum and didn't let anyone or society change who she was. Her awkwardness and vulnerability were endearing, but I did sometimes feel that she was a little too clinical (especially during the more intimate scenes). I understand her word vomit was caused by how nervous and scared she felt, but unfortunately a lot of the terminology and discussion took me out of the moment. Beau was great at bringing things back into focus though ;) I'm really hoping we'll be back in Big Verde soon as things heat up between Bryce and Carmen!

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I finished an ARC of Carly Bloom's Must Love Cowboy's, as the publicist said please try this (librarian heroine) and it was really charming! I'm not usually a cowboy romance reader, but give me a hot twin cowboy who needs tutoring for his un-diagnosed dyslexia and some truly delicious consent discussions, wow! The librarian character was a bit twee for me (she says "holy guacamole SO MANY TIMES) but I loved her "self-love" mantras and 'virginity is a social construct" frank discussions. All in all a solid 4 stars (out April 2021)!

I have not read the previous books in this series, and you do get glimpses of other couples and characters from those book (a bit overwhelming with the sheer amount of names), and you do get a glimpse at who I hope is a future pairing (Beau's twin brother and the celebrity chef)!

And, it was nice to see POC mentioned and living in this Texas town.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the ARC

This was a good, quick read for me. I appreciate how the author handled the subject of dyslexia with fun, unique, characters and an interesting story line. I would recommend this book.

“When she was with him, she felt like herself, only more. She’d had a taste of Beau Montgomery, and now she wanted all of him.”

What You’ll Find:
✔️Cowboy Romance
✔️Charming Hero
✔️Fake Relationship
✔️Sizzling Steam
✔️Dual POV

Must Love Cowboys brings us back to Big Verde with Beau, the charge of Rancho Cañada Verde and Alice, the awkward town librarian. When Beau finds himself newly in charge at the ranch, he knows he’s going to need help with his dyslexia. Who better to ask then Alice... who strikes a deal with him. But the people of this small town like to gossip and they soon find themselves in a fake relationship to hide Beau’s truth. Only Beau has had a crush on Alice since he was a teenager. And soon Alice sees Beau in a whole new light.

This story was was fun, flirty, sexy. It has heart, heat and humour. My favourite of the series. With such likeable MC’s and even side characters, this story is a pleasure to read. And speaking of pleasure, this book gets seriously steamy!! In a somewhat, awkward playful way that you just have to read to understand. I enjoyed Alice’s unique personality. Very matter of fact, always spieling random facts. And Beau, such a gentleman. Though a charmer and oh so playful. He’ll make you swoon. Their story is more of a slow burn but when they get to it, it gets hot!

If your a fan of sweet and steamy cowboy romance, in a fun small town setting, I definitely recommend this one! I hope there’s more to come! I’d love to see Bryce and Carmen next!

Thank you to the author and Forever Publishing for the eARC via Netgalley for my completely honest review.

✨✨Book Review✨✨

How have I lived in Texas most of my life and never read a cowboy romance? I am so glad I tried something new because this was such a fun read.

This has a librarian heroine who never felt like she fit in..and a popular YOUNGER hero who goes to her for help with a learning disability that was never properly treated. It also has a fake relationship that turns real (of course) and set up for another couple I’m definitely going to need more about soon!

I loved so much about this book - a character who has friends, but always felt kind of awkward..I related so much to this. The developing relationship between the characters felt real and the obstacles didn’t feel contrived. It was also fun to jump around Texas towns I’m familiar with (my town was even named checked). There was the use of one phrase that irked me, but I just skipped over that phrase when it turned up.

If you’ve never read a cowboy romance I would definitely recommend checking this one out...you just might find you love it.

Loved this, love this whole series. Great storytelling, packed with just the right amount of info to keep you entertained from start to finish. And I always have room for the funny bits.
There's some heart wrenching discoveries about Beau that had me tearing up. He and his brother had covered it up good, as long as they were together.
Now Alice, librarian extraordinaire, aka Allie Cat--by Beau, can help him, and in turn he can help her. Well ... that was the plan anyway. Beau may have been leaving something else out about his childhood. He had the biggest crush on the babysitter and that crush has only grown up into love with, you guessed it, Alice. They do click in all ways.
I read this all at once, could not put it down. This one has all the makings for a great heartfelt romance. With cowboys!!
An ARC was provided thru Netgalley. I am giving my own opinions. No novella was included with my copy.

This book blew me away! I adore Carly Bloom and the world she created in Big Verde! Alice Martin and Beau Montgomery were an exciting, adorable, and super sexy couple to read.

As the third book in the series I was more than happy with all the call-backs of my favorite characters but I truly believe this can be read as a stand alone. With that said, definitely read all the books because they are amazing. This book has some Beauty and the Beast undertones that are super fun to recognize and just add to the depth of the story.

This is a fake dating, opposites attract, cowboy/librarian, small-town, romance. Alice is a self-assured, book smart, leading lady who never quite fit in. Beau is the super hunky cowboy who can have any girl he wants but he never lets them get too close or they might see the real him.

Alice and Beau strike a deal which creates some forced proximity and sets the town atwitter with rumors of their romance so in order to keep the secret they go along with their fake relationship in the best possible way because let's be honest they are so into it. They fall into these hilarious situations where she's tutoring him through dyslexia and he's trying to help bring her out of her shell and give her new experiences and joy.

They have this tentative dance around their feelings that leads to all kinds of sparks and misunderstandings and one heck of a romance. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and am looking forward to whatever Carly Bloom writes next!

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion from NetGalley.
Babysitter crushes can turn in to more when you need a date to a wedding!!! Talk about a hot date at that!!!

Holy guacamole (see what I did there?), this book was FUN. I cannot remember the last time that I laughed so much while reading a novel.

In Must Love Cowboys, self-partnered Alice Martin finds herself in need of a plus one for a wedding, but doesn't have any prospects. Beau Montgomery, known as a being a ladies man and never "hop[ping] in the same saddle twice", receives increased responsibility on the job, but struggles with dyslexia and needs a tutor. He looks to Alice, his former babysitter-turned town librarian, and they strike a deal that is mutually beneficial. As the two work together, they learn that they have a lot more in common than they previously thought, leading to a love that is straight from a tale as old as time.

It was apparent that Bloom spent time researching dyslexia, and her compassionate representation helped me truly understand it for the first time in my life. I had never stopped to think about the way it would impact self esteem (in both children and adults), giving me even greater appreciation for the book. Bloom did an excellent job illustrating the ways that Beau was intelligent, even if he couldn't always see it himself.

"He stared at his face in the mirror. How could he look so different than he felt? He appeared to be a grown man, identical to his smart and capable brother. But his unaddressed dyslexia made him feel like a little kid. And he hated it."

Furthermore, the cast of characters was stellar. I absolutely adored Miss Mills and Dolly, as some of their comments were truly something else. Bloom's writing makes it easy to imagine that you're in the middle of the fray, and I honestly didn't want the book to end. I wish that I could share all of my favorite quotes (there are so many; seriously, if you're a romance lover, go buy this book), but to prevent this review from going on forever, here are a couple more:

"The first one ended on a cliffhanger. 'Yes. I stayed up until nearly dawn listening , and now..'. He fumbled around for words and finally decided on the truth. 'I need the next book or I might die.'"

"The harder she tried to force Beau's bare chest out of her sacred mind's eye, the bigger it got. She wasn't supposed to think of anything at all, much less bare chests. She scrunched her eyes shut, but the chest not only refused to leave, it inflated like one of those gigantic balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, bobbing happily right in front of her face."

While this is the third (technically, fourth) installment in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. That being said, I am so excited this book comes with Big Bad Cowboy, the first book in the series, as I plan to go back and read the rest. Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I'll be recommending this one with a huge smile for quite some time.

"Facts were facts. Feelings were...messy."

Alice, Big Verde's local librarian, is a rule follower. She lives in facts and is content being alone and living her life as an outcast of the town. Beau has been harboring a secret crush on Alice since childhood and finally gets the chance to act on it when Alice needs a plus one to a wedding in exchange for Alice's help with his dyslexia. The two write a contract for their fake relationship that turns into anything but fake.

This is my favorite one of the series so far! Carly Bloom completely sweeps you away into the world of Big Verde and I love getting glimpses of all the previous characters and where their lives are now. Even though these books are romances, this one really celebrates friendship and the all important relationship that one has with themself.

The chemistry between Alice and Beau is on fire. It builds slowly and purposely. I loved all the surprises that get thrown your way throughout it. Not only is the book steamy, there are sweet moments mixed in that made me smile. And it's adorable how they figure out how each other "fits" into their lives, despite their previous preconceived notions on what they thought they wanted in life and love.

Bravo Carly Bloom! I loved it so much! Thank you Forever for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading (and LOVING) the first two books in this series, I knew I had to read Alice's book.

Alice is the town librarian who has no interest in men or changing her plans. Beau is a rough around the edges cowboy who has been harboring a crush on Alice since elementary school and now needs her help. I loved watching Alice break down her walls along with Beau's to show themselves they deserve love. I can really relate to Alice in that I didn't really fit in when I was in high school and that sense of looking in to other friend groups.

In typical Carly Bloom fashion I could not stop laughing throughout the book. Getting to see how the other side characters have been doing since the last book was also so fun! If you love cowboy romances or if you are looking for a good series to start with, I cannot recommend this series any more. I hope there is a fourth book in the works because I need more Carly Bloom in my life.

I loved the latest installment of this fun and sweet series. I binged the whole series over the course of a couple days and this was my favorite yet!

Beau Montgomery has his chance to take over Rancho Cañada Verde as the sole foreman when his twin takes a job at a new property. The only problem? Beau is dyslexic and his brother has been covering for him for years. He's worried he won't be able to handle the paperwork involved so he enlists his former babysitter (and lifelong crush) Alice, who is the town's head librarian. Alice agrees to help him learn coping strategies in exchange for being her date to a wedding.

It's a slow burn as Alice tutors him and in return he teaches her to relax a little and try new things. As the wedding nears, they both find maybe they don't just want to be fake dating.

It was so sweet and both characters had excellent character development. Beau was so charming, so easy going, but all that was hiding the fear he had that no one would love him when they found out about his learning disability. Alice has always felt like an outsider and she's perfectly happy on her own. I was a little disappointed at how easily she gave up being her own partner for the sake of some man, but I do understand it's a romance novel not a feminist manifesto.

I've grown to love this town and it's people and hopefully there's more to come!